Quilting apparatus.



No: 862,604. PATBNTED AUG. 6, 1907. W. H. BONWBLL.

QUILTING APPARATUS. APPLIGATIQN FILED 141111.23, 190s.

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GEO. QD EQB 1 Y v w No. 862,604. 'PATENTED AUG. 6, 1907.

W; H. BONWELL.

QUILTING APPARATUS,

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1906.

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THE "cums pzrsns co., WASHINGTON, n c.

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No. 862,604. PATENTED AUG. 6. 1907.

W. H. BONWELL. QUILTING APPARATUS.

urmcnxou FILED mmza, 190s.

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WILLIAM H. BONWELL, OF. BROOKVILLE, INDIANA.

QUILTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1907.

Application filed March 23, 1906. Serial No. 307,730.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. BoNwELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brookville, in the county of Franklin and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Quilting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to quilting frames, the object of the invention being to provide a quilting apparatus of generally improved construction which may be conveniently set up at any desired point, and by means of which the stretcher frame or quilting frame proper may be supported at any desired elevation and used in connection with a lining support whereby in rolling in the quilt the lining is held in a convenient position off the floor, the said lining support being also adjustable to suit requirements such as the size of the quilt and .the corresponding size of the lining.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for adjusting the size of the stretcher or quilting frame proper and also to'provide means whereby said frame may be held stationary while rolling in the quilt, the frame also carrying means for pressing the parts of the quilt firmly against the rollers during the rolling in operation.

With the above and other objects in view, the nature of which will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a quilting apparatus complete embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the stretcher frame or quilting frame proper. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same with the upper portion broken away. Fig. 5 is an end view thereof. Fig. 6 is a reduced side elevation of the same looking toward the opposite side from Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail cross section showing the connection between the mainframe of the stretcher and the posts extending upward therefrom. Fig. 8 is a plan view of one of the extensible rollers. Fig. 9 is a cross section through the same. Fig. 10 is a detail view of the traveler.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates an overhead sectional beam or top rail supported at its opposite ends upon uprights 2, each of the uprights comprising a broad supporting base 3, while the upright is made of sectional construction consisting of members which are adapted to slide or telescope one within the other. The lower section which is connected fixedly to the base 3 comprises the parallel bars or members 4 between which are slidingly fitted the corresponding parallel bars or members 5 of another section of the upright 2, the sections when adjusted to bring the top rail 1 to the desired height being held by means of clamps 6 shown in the form of ordinary screw belts with thumb nuts. The top rail or beam 1 is of sectional construction, or in other words, is made in several pieces which set together end to end as shown in Fig. 1, the end of one section being provided with a notch 7 to receive a corresponding tongue or projection 8 on the abutting end of the next section.

9 designates a truss wire which extends from end to end of the complete sectional beam or top rail 1, said truss wire passing along the top of the rail and over a strut 10 whereby the rail 1 is prevented from breaking joint in an upward direction. Said rail is prevented from breaking downward by means of parallel wires or ties 11 which extend from one upright to the other, said wires also serving as a track upon which a traveler 12 moves. The parallel wires 11 are connected at their opposite ends to eye bolts 13 which pass on opposite sides of the uprights 2 and through slides 01' blocks 14 bearing against the outer sides of the uprights 2 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, where said eye bolts receive tension nuts 15. By means of the construction just described, the wires 11 may be tightened, and the blocks 14 which carry the eye-bolts 13, may be moved up or down to any height for the purpose of imparting the desired inclination to the track on which the traveler 12 moves.

The traveler is shown in detail in Fig. 10 in which it is seen to comprise a yoke shaped frame or fork 16, the branches or arms of which receive the opposite extremities of a pair of shafts or axles 17 upon which are mounted grooved pulley wheels 18 which rest on the wires 11.

Connected with the frame 16 is a depending hook 19 adapted to receive a suspending cord or cable 20, the opposite ends of which are connected to the stretcher or quilting frame as shown in Fig. 1.

21 designates oblique braces interposed between the beam 1 and uprights 2, and detachably secured thereto by fasteners 22.

In order to support the quilt lining and prevent the same from dragging on the floor, I employ a supporting bar 23 which in turn is supported by a pair of hangers 24 consisting of rods or bars the upper portions of which pass through upstanding clutch eyes 25 carried by the rail 1 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The hangers 24 pass at an inclination through the eyes 25 and rest against the rail 1 as indicated in Fig. 2, so that by tilting the lower ends of the hangers slightly upward they may be slid up or down until the bar 23 is brought to the desired elevation. A quick adjustment of the bar 23 is obtained by providing the lower portions of the hangers 24 with notches 26 in which the bar 23 is received as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. The bar 23 supports the lining while rolling the quilt in the stretcher frame to be described. The stretcher frame comprises the main frame bars 27 and 28 which extend parallel to each other, but vary slightly in details of construction. The bar 28 is provided with inclined notches or slots 29 to receive the trunnions 30 at one end of the quilt and lining rollers 31 and 32 and the winding or stretching roller 33. The other bar 27 is provided with bearing sockets 34 to receive the journals of the rollers at that end of the latter and the bar is also cut away adjacent to said journals as shown at 35 to receive friction clamps 36 consisting of blocks which are hinged to the bar 27 as shown at 37 and adapted to embrace one half of the journal, the free end of the clamp or block 36 being slotted as shown at 38 to admit a clamp 39 shown in the form of a screw or thumb nut by means of which any desired pressure may be brought to bear on the friction clamp for resisting the rotation of the roller held thereby and preventing the roller from becoming loose, thereby holding the quilt cover and lining stretched.

Each of the rollers 31 32 and 33 is extensible in length so as to accommodate quilts of different sizes, and as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, each of said rollers is composed of a plurality of segments 40 which, fitting together, form a roller which is round in cross section. Extending around the sections 40 are sleeves or ferrules 41 which hold the sections together, while permitting the roller as a whole to be extended in length. The roller is provided at a suitable point with a quilt holding strip 42in the form of a strip of sheet metal which is inserted and held in a groove 43 in the roller as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The quilt cover or lining is adapted to be secured to the strip 42 preparatory to rolling the same upon the roller.

Extending upward from each of the bars 27 and 28 is a post 44 and upon the upper ends of the said posts is a cross bar 45 which is also made extensible in length like the rollers 31, 32 and 33. The cross bar 45 is made adjustable up and down on the posts 44 by providing the same with clamping heads at opposite ends thereof, each clamping head being formed by splitting the end of the bar as shown at 46, forming the same with an opening 48 to receive the post 44 and passing a clamping device 49 through the extremity of the clamping head as shown in Fig. 3, wherein the clamping device is shown in the form of a bolt and thumb nut. The cross bar 45 is equipped with one or more eyes 50 to receive the suspending cord or cable 20 above referred to.

In order to provide for adjusting the posts 44 lengthwise of the bars 27 and 28, the base of each post is provided with a downwardly extending tongue 51 which moves lengthwise of a groove 52 in the top of its respective bar 27 or 28. Retainer slides 53 are also connected fast to opposite sides of the base of the post as shown in Figs. 4 and 7, said slides embracing the main frame bar on oppositesides, and having inturned lips 54 at their lower extremities which slide lengthwise in grooves 55 formed in opposite sides of the bars 27 and 28.

In order to hold the cover and lining tightly on the 56 and 5'7 adapted to rest directly over and immedi ately upon the rollers 31 and 32 above described, and as shown in Fig. 4, the said rollers 56 and 57 being journaled between the opposite arms 58 of a presser frame which is pivotally connected at 59 to the bases of the posts 44 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The construction just described enables the rollers 56 and 57 to be lowered and held with the desired pressure by hand against the rollers 31 and 32 while rolling in the quilt, and when not in use to be swung upward out of the way as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5, in which upright position, the said presser frame may be secured by any convenient means.

60 designates a keeper bracket adjustably secured by means of a clamping device 61 to the inner side of one of the uprights 2, upon which the stretcher frame may be placed and supported while operating the rollers 31, 32 and 33 to roll in the quilt. The bracket 60 holds one end of the quilting frame firmly so that. the rollers thereof may be operated and the quilt body and lining manipulated without liabilty of said frame shifting along the track.

62 designates a detachable operating crank having a squared opening applicable to the corresponding extremity 63 of any of the rollers 31, 32 and 33.

I claim:

1. In quilting apparatus, the combination with a stretching or quilting frame, of a supporting stand therefor e111- bodying uprights, a beam supported at its opposite ends by said uprights and composed of a plurality of sections provided with interfitting end tongues and notches, and one or more wires or cables extending lengthwise of said beam and serving as braces therefor.

2. In quilting apparatus, the combination with a stretching or quilting frame, of a supporting stand therefor embodying uprights, a beam connecting said uprights and comprising a plurality of separably jointed sections abutting end to end, means for holding the sections in line with each other, and a track extending between the uprights beneath the beam and having one end thereof adjustably connected to one of the uprights.

3. In quilting apparatus, the combination with a stretching or quilting frame, of a supporting stand therefor embodying uprights, a beam connecting said uprights, a track extending between the uprights beneath the beam, and a track holding device adjustable up and down on one of the uprights forimparting an inclination to the track.

4. In quilting apparatus, the combination with a stretching or quilting frame, of a supporting stand therefor embodying uprights, and a beam connecting said uprights, clutch eyes on said beam, hanger bars adjustable through said eyes, and a lining support carried by said hanger bars.

5. In quilting apparatus, the combination with a stretching or quilting frame, of a supporting stand therefor embodying uprights and a beam connecting said uprights, and a lining support comprising hanger bars, clutch eyes on the beam through which the hanger bars are adjustable, and a lining support bar adjustable on said hanger bars.

6. In quilting apparatus, the combination with a stretching or quilting frame, of a supporting stand therefor, means for suspending the quilting frame from the supporting stand and a keeper adapted to engage one end of the quilting frame to hold the latter while rolling in the quilt.

7. In quilting apparatus, the combination with a supporting stand, of a quilting or stretching frame, embodying oppositely arranged side bars, and rollers connecting the side bars, each of said rollers being composed of cross-sectionally segmental overlapping sections movable lengthwise of each other and sleeves or ferrules encircling the rollers 31 and 32, I provide presser or tightener rollers s t 8. In quilting apparatus, the combination with a supporting stand, of a quilting or stretching frame, embodying oppositely arranged side bars, rollers connecting said side bars and journaled therein, and a pressel' frame connected with the stretching frame and carrying presser rollers movable toward and away from the aforesaid rollers substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. In quilting apparatus, the combination with a supporting frame, of a quilting or stretching frame, embodying 10 oppositely arranged side bars, quilting rollers connecting the side bars and journaled therein, and a presser frame having a pivotal connection with the quilting frame and carrying presser rollers movable toward and away from the quilting rollers.

In testimony whereof I alflx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. BONWELL. Witnesses WM. L. WALTZ, FRAZER N. WINANS. 

